U.S. health care systems are expected to see an annual loss rate of $0.79 per $100 of payroll for workers' compensation claims in 2013, and claim severity, including medical, indemnity and expense costs, is estimated to rise by 2 percent per year, according to a new survey by Aon Risk Solutions.

The survey also finds loss rates are projected to grow 1 percent annually, and the stability in workers' comp loss rates is attributed to the decline in claims frequency. Factors likely causing this decrease are the health care industry's focus on patient safety, which trickles down to worker safety; the use of new technology and nursing staff turnover.

Risk managers are most worried about patient handling, considering that related claims make up 25 percent of all health care workers' compensation claim payments, the survey finds. Patient handling also experiences the highest average indemnity payment. Among the other major concerns for risk managers are absence management, managing costs and an aging work force.